Being an Enlightened Citizen with Michelle Medrano

[00:00:00] So today we are, as Reverend Jackie mentioned, talking about enlightened citizenry.

[00:00:07] This is a phrase that I just out and out stole from Dr. Roger Thiel.

[00:00:12] He would talk about this a lot during his ministry here, and I just thought it was such a powerful, powerful concept

[00:00:22] that I've spent a lot of time wondering what does it really mean to be an enlightened citizen.

[00:00:28] And I've heard some rumors that there's something going on Tuesday here in the U.S. that maybe we should give some thought to being a little more of an enlightened citizen for.

[00:00:39] And not only for what we're about to do in terms of voting, and many of us have already voted, but if you're going to go stand in line and vote,

[00:00:48] or we're going to watch the outcome of that in the weeks and days and years ahead, it seems like it would behoove us to become an enlightened citizen.

[00:00:57] Not only for the sake of our United States of America, but for the sake of the entire world.

[00:01:02] So to start out the conversation, I began exploring a little bit about the word enlightened.

[00:01:08] What does enlightened mean? I've known it mostly through spiritual circles.

[00:01:13] There's also an element of the word enlightened that's defined by being modernized,

[00:01:20] or the latest and greatest, meaning it's the enlightened version of our staff policies and that sort of thing.

[00:01:27] But in our world, in this spiritual realm, and in the realm we're talking around,

[00:01:33] our own consciousness and our awareness of our world,

[00:01:36] I believe that enlightenment is all about spiritual awakening.

[00:01:41] It's about bringing light, literally the word light in the middle of that,

[00:01:47] light to the way we show up on this planet as a citizen.

[00:01:52] The things we say and do in our own minds,

[00:01:56] in our own beingness, as well as what we say to other people,

[00:02:00] and how we behave towards other people.

[00:02:02] And enlightened citizenry is about bringing our spiritual values and mores to bear

[00:02:10] upon our activities as a citizen on planet Earth.

[00:02:16] And it's an important choice, because an unenlightened citizenry

[00:02:21] creates darkness and more violence and more of what I think we don't want.

[00:02:29] And so I do believe that part of how we can be a healing presence on this planet

[00:02:35] is to ask ourselves and to consider,

[00:02:38] how am I being an enlightened citizen right now?

[00:02:41] And how am I not?

[00:02:43] And so it's important for us to consider this.

[00:02:47] And I started out this exploration for this particular talk a number of weeks ago

[00:02:53] with our wonderful videographer, Bobby, whom you saw in the announcements,

[00:02:57] asking people out on the plaza, I call it my person on the plaza interviews,

[00:03:03] what do people here think it means to be an enlightened citizen?

[00:03:06] So we have a brief video to show you about their answers.

[00:03:09] Let's start with them.

[00:03:11] What does it mean to be an enlightened citizen?

[00:03:13] To me it's to think as a universal citizen.

[00:03:15] So not just your own personal desires,

[00:03:19] but what's for the good of the all.

[00:03:21] And that means animal, vegetable, mineral, kingdom,

[00:03:23] the entire planet, everyone, everywhere.

[00:03:26] Of course we all have our own wishes and wants,

[00:03:29] but to really try to choose what is best for all,

[00:03:32] for the highest good of all,

[00:03:33] and then to follow that.

[00:03:35] And to not get entangled in right and wrong,

[00:03:38] and to try to be a peaceful citizen when you make your choices.

[00:03:41] Beautiful.

[00:03:42] Thank you so much.

[00:03:44] Putting yourself in the shoes of other people

[00:03:47] and realizing that it's okay to have differences

[00:03:50] and that we embrace our differences.

[00:03:52] What does it mean to you to be an enlightened citizen?

[00:03:55] I think to me it means to be open,

[00:03:57] to be looking at all viewpoints

[00:03:59] and hearing what everybody has to say

[00:04:01] because maybe they're going to teach me something I didn't know

[00:04:04] and it might alter my view.

[00:04:06] I believe an enlightened citizen

[00:04:10] is one who's able to consider

[00:04:12] the needs and interests of others

[00:04:16] that they're living in society with.

[00:04:19] An enlightened citizen is being happy,

[00:04:24] being kind, helping other people.

[00:04:27] I think it means to know who you are and your truth

[00:04:31] and to just come from that point in how you live.

[00:04:37] I think an enlightened citizen is probably a good person

[00:04:44] that has a bright soul and loves things.

[00:04:49] For the equity and inclusion of our society

[00:04:52] and the fairness to all.

[00:04:55] Well, for me, being an enlightened citizen

[00:04:58] is leading with compassion

[00:04:59] and holding a higher vision

[00:05:02] than current events and circumstances

[00:05:05] and working toward that vision

[00:05:07] with compassion and goodwill.

[00:05:08] A person who looks not only outward but inward.

[00:05:12] Well, I believe that we all stand for humanity

[00:05:17] and within that,

[00:05:20] we have to move for the most benevolent outcome

[00:05:23] for all people.

[00:05:24] An enlightened citizen

[00:05:27] would be a citizen that looks toward the light.

[00:05:31] You be responsible,

[00:05:34] you have empathy,

[00:05:38] you...

[00:05:42] Tell me what it means to you

[00:05:43] to be an enlightened citizen.

[00:05:45] I think an enlightened citizen

[00:05:47] is someone who is curious,

[00:05:50] curious about other people

[00:05:51] and about the whys and hows of things

[00:05:54] and also someone who is compassionate

[00:05:56] and wanting to lean into understanding.

[00:05:58] Basically, that means to shine my light.

[00:06:01] Enlightened citizens.

[00:06:03] To me, it means really paying attention

[00:06:06] to what other people are going through,

[00:06:08] not reacting to what they say to me,

[00:06:11] but really filling into what they're experiencing

[00:06:13] and trying to relate to them that way.

[00:06:16] Beautiful.

[00:06:17] Thank you.

[00:06:18] That was easy.

[00:06:21] Wonderful job.

[00:06:22] Such wisdom here.

[00:06:25] And we had a lot more interviews than that.

[00:06:28] We could have...

[00:06:29] That's my talk.

[00:06:30] I'm done now.

[00:06:30] Let's take the offering.

[00:06:31] No, I'm just kidding.

[00:06:32] We could have really...

[00:06:34] People were very wise and articulate.

[00:06:36] And honestly,

[00:06:37] in all of the ones that we included

[00:06:39] and the ones that we didn't include,

[00:06:41] I would say the number one word

[00:06:43] that was spoken

[00:06:44] when it came to what it means

[00:06:46] is compassion.

[00:06:48] Compassion and love.

[00:06:49] And I also think it was a lot about

[00:06:52] paying attention to other people,

[00:06:55] listening,

[00:06:56] being respectful,

[00:06:58] being kind,

[00:06:59] a lot of those kind of words.

[00:07:01] So what does it take to do that?

[00:07:03] How can we do that?

[00:07:05] How can each one of us embody more of that?

[00:07:09] And I believe that in order to do that,

[00:07:13] each one of us has something

[00:07:14] we likely need to change

[00:07:16] about the way we think

[00:07:17] or the way we approach the world at large.

[00:07:21] And change is a powerful word.

[00:07:23] It was beautifully expressed

[00:07:25] in the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's quote

[00:07:29] that Reverend Jackie read,

[00:07:30] that change,

[00:07:31] we have to be prepared for change.

[00:07:33] And then you take change,

[00:07:35] and I think if you go further,

[00:07:36] maybe a little bit more profound word

[00:07:40] that we might consider,

[00:07:41] then,

[00:07:41] well,

[00:07:41] I've got to change,

[00:07:42] is I've got to transform.

[00:07:44] We've got to transform our systems,

[00:07:46] and we've got to transform

[00:07:47] the way we approach things,

[00:07:49] and we've got to transform this.

[00:07:51] That's a powerful word too.

[00:07:52] Transformation is a powerful,

[00:07:54] powerful word.

[00:07:55] And then as I was contemplating this,

[00:07:58] it felt to me like

[00:07:59] a little bit of a higher vibrational energy

[00:08:03] beyond changing and transforming

[00:08:06] was transmutation,

[00:08:09] transmuting.

[00:08:10] Now I played with that word transmute,

[00:08:14] and transmutation is often

[00:08:17] most associated with alchemy,

[00:08:20] with what alchemists were trying to do

[00:08:22] as they were wanting to change metal to gold,

[00:08:25] to transform something from one substance

[00:08:28] to another substance,

[00:08:29] to really in the life of spiritual seekers,

[00:08:34] transmutation is about going from our lower nature,

[00:08:38] which might include selfishness,

[00:08:41] and ruthlessness,

[00:08:41] and egotism,

[00:08:43] and only looking out for me,

[00:08:45] and transmuting my energy,

[00:08:48] to as some of our folks said in the video,

[00:08:52] maintaining my preferences,

[00:08:54] and acting on those preferences,

[00:08:56] yet having profound compassion,

[00:09:00] and extending great freedom and respect

[00:09:02] to all citizens everywhere,

[00:09:05] to all beings everywhere,

[00:09:08] no matter what's going on for them.

[00:09:11] That word is often used by

[00:09:14] not only alchemists,

[00:09:16] but mystics and spiritual greats

[00:09:20] who are seeking to teach humanity

[00:09:22] how to live from a higher place

[00:09:25] to transmute ourselves.

[00:09:28] And love was also mentioned in our video.

[00:09:31] Most alchemists or people

[00:09:34] who are practicing spiritual alchemy

[00:09:36] believe that love and compassion

[00:09:39] is the highest state

[00:09:40] of the transmutation energy.

[00:09:44] That we can,

[00:09:46] no matter what someone is doing,

[00:09:48] how they're behaving,

[00:09:49] we can still,

[00:09:50] if we choose to,

[00:09:52] extend ourselves to them

[00:09:53] in love and compassion.

[00:09:55] We may not agree with them,

[00:09:57] and that's fine.

[00:09:57] We may not even like them personally,

[00:10:00] and that's fine.

[00:10:01] But we can extend ourselves

[00:10:04] in absolute love

[00:10:05] and transmute ourselves

[00:10:07] and the whole atmosphere

[00:10:10] of our planet by doing that.

[00:10:12] This is what we talk about

[00:10:15] and teach about

[00:10:16] here in our community,

[00:10:18] and it is the most important,

[00:10:20] profound,

[00:10:21] and challenging practice

[00:10:23] of being a spiritual person,

[00:10:26] of being a human being,

[00:10:28] of being a citizen

[00:10:29] on this planet Earth.

[00:10:31] And yet I think

[00:10:32] we're all being called to it,

[00:10:34] and how we know

[00:10:35] we're being called to it

[00:10:36] is that we can see

[00:10:38] the things going on

[00:10:39] in the world,

[00:10:40] not only in our country,

[00:10:41] but around the world,

[00:10:42] that are challenging,

[00:10:43] and we wonder what to do,

[00:10:46] and we wonder if this is enough,

[00:10:48] but this is the work.

[00:10:50] This alchemy

[00:10:52] is the work.

[00:10:53] This transmutation

[00:10:55] is the work.

[00:10:57] Because what I know for sure

[00:10:59] is that if we continue

[00:11:01] to be focused

[00:11:02] on what we don't want,

[00:11:03] and some of us

[00:11:04] are very passionate

[00:11:05] about what we don't want,

[00:11:07] aren't we?

[00:11:09] That passion

[00:11:10] is very creative.

[00:11:12] One of the basic teachings

[00:11:14] here in our community

[00:11:15] is if we focus

[00:11:17] on what we don't want,

[00:11:19] we just get more

[00:11:20] of the same.

[00:11:20] And part of the reason

[00:11:22] that's true

[00:11:23] is because many times

[00:11:25] we are much more

[00:11:27] animated,

[00:11:28] passionate,

[00:11:29] and energized

[00:11:30] about what we don't want

[00:11:31] than what we do want.

[00:11:35] This invites us

[00:11:37] to put as much passion

[00:11:40] through the activity

[00:11:42] of transmutation

[00:11:43] into what we do want,

[00:11:45] and to move ourselves

[00:11:47] and facilitate ourselves

[00:11:48] forward in that energy.

[00:11:51] And so I want to focus

[00:11:53] on two areas

[00:11:54] of transmutation

[00:11:55] this morning.

[00:11:56] The first one

[00:11:58] is transmuting

[00:11:59] confusion

[00:12:00] to clarity.

[00:12:03] Part of what

[00:12:04] is challenging

[00:12:06] for us,

[00:12:07] whether we're

[00:12:08] in an election cycle

[00:12:09] or we're watching

[00:12:10] the news happen,

[00:12:11] is that there can be

[00:12:12] great confusion

[00:12:14] and we can feel

[00:12:15] confounded

[00:12:16] by what we're seeing

[00:12:17] and hearing.

[00:12:18] And so clarity,

[00:12:20] transmuting that confusion

[00:12:22] is a huge part

[00:12:24] of the spiritual practice

[00:12:25] of becoming

[00:12:26] an enlightened citizen.

[00:12:27] I know

[00:12:28] that I have felt

[00:12:30] in this election cycle

[00:12:31] so confused at times,

[00:12:32] and I watch

[00:12:34] morning news

[00:12:35] on some weekdays

[00:12:36] just to get a sense

[00:12:37] of what's going on

[00:12:38] in the world,

[00:12:38] and I've watched

[00:12:39] the commercials,

[00:12:40] and there'll be

[00:12:41] a commercial that says,

[00:12:42] this candidate

[00:12:43] is a saint

[00:12:43] because they've done

[00:12:44] all this stuff,

[00:12:45] and then right

[00:12:46] after that,

[00:12:47] in the next 30 seconds,

[00:12:49] a commercial,

[00:12:50] this candidate

[00:12:50] is a horrible,

[00:12:52] evil doer

[00:12:52] and you should

[00:12:53] never vote for them.

[00:12:54] What's true?

[00:12:55] How do I know

[00:12:56] what's true?

[00:12:57] Do I know

[00:12:57] what's true

[00:12:58] by watching television?

[00:13:00] No,

[00:13:01] no,

[00:13:02] no,

[00:13:03] but a lot

[00:13:04] of that

[00:13:05] marketing machine,

[00:13:07] not only about

[00:13:08] the election cycle,

[00:13:09] but about

[00:13:10] the world

[00:13:11] at large,

[00:13:11] is about

[00:13:13] activating

[00:13:13] our lizard brain,

[00:13:15] making us afraid,

[00:13:16] to be afraid

[00:13:17] of that candidate.

[00:13:19] They did this

[00:13:20] and I heard it

[00:13:21] on television

[00:13:22] or I saw it

[00:13:23] on social media.

[00:13:24] Oh my gosh,

[00:13:25] can you believe that?

[00:13:26] And all the while,

[00:13:28] there may be clarity

[00:13:29] about none of that's

[00:13:30] even true,

[00:13:31] but we're being

[00:13:32] supported always

[00:13:33] if we pay

[00:13:35] too much attention

[00:13:36] to being confused

[00:13:38] and afraid

[00:13:39] and led

[00:13:40] into

[00:13:41] a state

[00:13:42] of being.

[00:13:42] I feel like

[00:13:43] I've fallen

[00:13:43] into holes

[00:13:44] sometimes

[00:13:45] when I go

[00:13:45] on to social media.

[00:13:47] I'll fall

[00:13:47] into some hole

[00:13:48] of someone's

[00:13:49] comment

[00:13:50] and then looking

[00:13:50] at the comments

[00:13:51] and I'm in this hole

[00:13:52] and before I know it,

[00:13:53] it's a dark hole

[00:13:54] and it is horrible

[00:13:55] and I just want out.

[00:13:57] I felt like

[00:13:58] it's a horrible

[00:13:59] tennis match

[00:14:00] that I've been

[00:14:00] watching for a year

[00:14:01] and a half.

[00:14:02] Boop,

[00:14:03] boop,

[00:14:03] boop,

[00:14:05] boop.

[00:14:06] And on both sides,

[00:14:07] if you will,

[00:14:08] here in the U.S.

[00:14:09] at times,

[00:14:10] boop,

[00:14:10] boop,

[00:14:11] what are they doing

[00:14:13] over there?

[00:14:14] It's crazy.

[00:14:15] It can be crazy making.

[00:14:17] How do I transmute

[00:14:18] that confusion

[00:14:19] that I might feel

[00:14:21] into clarity

[00:14:22] that's in alignment

[00:14:23] with my values,

[00:14:25] in alignment

[00:14:26] with my preferences?

[00:14:27] I can't stay

[00:14:29] in confusion

[00:14:30] and have

[00:14:31] that experience.

[00:14:32] I've got to

[00:14:33] facilitate myself

[00:14:34] out of it.

[00:14:36] I remembered

[00:14:37] a piece

[00:14:37] that we used

[00:14:38] to have

[00:14:39] in one of our

[00:14:39] classes years ago

[00:14:41] that I suspect

[00:14:42] many of you

[00:14:42] have probably

[00:14:43] heard before

[00:14:44] but I want

[00:14:45] a presence

[00:14:45] to it

[00:14:47] because this feels

[00:14:47] kind of the process

[00:14:48] for me

[00:14:49] of facilitating

[00:14:50] myself

[00:14:51] out of confusion

[00:14:53] into clarity,

[00:14:55] that transmutation

[00:14:56] process.

[00:14:57] It's called

[00:14:58] An Autobiography

[00:14:59] in Five Short Chapters

[00:15:01] by Portia Nelson.

[00:15:03] Chapter 1.

[00:15:05] I walk down

[00:15:06] the street.

[00:15:07] There's a deep

[00:15:08] hole in the sidewalk.

[00:15:09] I fall in.

[00:15:11] I'm lost.

[00:15:12] I'm helpless.

[00:15:14] It isn't my fault.

[00:15:16] It takes forever

[00:15:17] to find a way out.

[00:15:19] Anybody else relate

[00:15:21] to that?

[00:15:21] I've done that before.

[00:15:22] Yeah.

[00:15:24] Chapter 2.

[00:15:25] I walk down

[00:15:26] the street.

[00:15:27] There's a deep

[00:15:28] hole in the sidewalk.

[00:15:29] I still don't see it.

[00:15:31] I fall in again.

[00:15:33] I can't believe

[00:15:34] I'm in the same place.

[00:15:35] It isn't my fault.

[00:15:38] It still takes

[00:15:39] a long time

[00:15:40] to get out.

[00:15:41] These two chapters

[00:15:42] to me represent

[00:15:43] a lack of clarity

[00:15:45] about my responsibility

[00:15:48] in my own life,

[00:15:50] about my energy,

[00:15:51] my accountability

[00:15:53] for how I show up

[00:15:54] in the world.

[00:15:56] Chapter 3.

[00:15:57] I walk down

[00:15:59] the same street.

[00:16:00] There's a deep

[00:16:01] hole in the sidewalk.

[00:16:02] I see it there.

[00:16:03] I still fall in.

[00:16:06] It's a habit.

[00:16:09] It is my fault.

[00:16:11] I know where I am.

[00:16:13] I get out immediately.

[00:16:15] There's where

[00:16:16] it starts to click.

[00:16:17] There's where

[00:16:18] something new

[00:16:18] begins to happen.

[00:16:19] Oh, I've fallen down

[00:16:20] this, I've taken myself

[00:16:22] down this rabbit hole.

[00:16:23] It's my fault.

[00:16:24] I can get out.

[00:16:26] Chapter 4.

[00:16:28] I walk down

[00:16:29] the same street.

[00:16:30] There's a deep

[00:16:31] hole in the sidewalk.

[00:16:33] I walk around it.

[00:16:35] Chapter 5.

[00:16:37] I walk down

[00:16:38] a different street.

[00:16:45] To transmute ourselves

[00:16:46] from confusion

[00:16:48] to clarity

[00:16:50] means we have to

[00:16:51] walk down

[00:16:51] different streets.

[00:16:53] You could

[00:16:54] equate that

[00:16:55] to walk down

[00:16:56] different synapses

[00:16:57] of our brain,

[00:16:58] to take ourselves

[00:17:00] and facilitate

[00:17:00] ourselves

[00:17:01] down different ways.

[00:17:03] To say to ourselves,

[00:17:04] I choose to be

[00:17:05] an enlightened citizen.

[00:17:06] I choose to be

[00:17:08] a contribution

[00:17:08] of good on this planet.

[00:17:10] And that means

[00:17:10] I've got to walk

[00:17:11] down different streets.

[00:17:12] I can no longer

[00:17:13] choose to walk

[00:17:14] down the streets

[00:17:15] where I spend

[00:17:16] a lot of time

[00:17:17] in upset

[00:17:18] and making people

[00:17:19] wrong

[00:17:19] and criticism.

[00:17:21] And spiritual

[00:17:23] clarity,

[00:17:24] which I transmute

[00:17:25] myself to,

[00:17:26] still comes with it.

[00:17:28] My preferences,

[00:17:30] my choices,

[00:17:32] my way of voting,

[00:17:34] my preferences

[00:17:34] for there to be

[00:17:35] more peace

[00:17:36] on the planet,

[00:17:37] my preferences

[00:17:37] for certain policies

[00:17:39] and people.

[00:17:40] It's not like

[00:17:40] we just get rid

[00:17:42] of that stuff.

[00:17:43] That's important.

[00:17:44] But how I express

[00:17:46] those preferences

[00:17:47] is with great peace,

[00:17:49] not such anger

[00:17:51] and frustration.

[00:17:53] Years ago,

[00:17:54] we had a wonderful

[00:17:54] teacher named

[00:17:55] Ken Kyes

[00:17:56] come to Mile High Church.

[00:17:58] And I thought

[00:17:59] he was so transformational.

[00:18:01] He's no longer

[00:18:02] on the planet.

[00:18:03] He made his transition.

[00:18:04] But he brought to us

[00:18:06] beautiful work

[00:18:07] about understanding

[00:18:08] that when we're

[00:18:09] walking through this life,

[00:18:10] an enlightened person

[00:18:12] absolutely has

[00:18:13] their preferences.

[00:18:14] But they don't feel

[00:18:15] a need to project

[00:18:16] their preferences

[00:18:17] onto another person.

[00:18:19] He would say,

[00:18:20] happiness happens

[00:18:21] when your consciousness

[00:18:22] is not dominated

[00:18:23] by addictions

[00:18:24] and demands.

[00:18:26] And you experience

[00:18:27] life as a parade

[00:18:28] of preferences.

[00:18:30] It's the willingness

[00:18:32] to have my preferences.

[00:18:34] See, sometimes I think

[00:18:35] we spiritual people,

[00:18:36] I've said this before

[00:18:37] and I will say it again,

[00:18:38] we fall into the trap

[00:18:40] of believing

[00:18:41] that oneness

[00:18:42] means that everybody

[00:18:43] has to have

[00:18:44] the same preferences.

[00:18:46] And that simply

[00:18:48] is not true.

[00:18:50] Oneness

[00:18:50] is not sameness.

[00:18:52] Our founder,

[00:18:53] Ernest Holmes,

[00:18:53] would say this.

[00:18:54] Spiritual teachers

[00:18:55] throughout the ages

[00:18:56] have said this.

[00:18:58] It's easy

[00:18:59] for me to hang out

[00:19:00] and be only with people

[00:19:01] that I agree with

[00:19:02] and that I feel one with.

[00:19:05] Advanced spiritual studies

[00:19:06] is to hang out

[00:19:08] with people

[00:19:08] I disagree with

[00:19:09] and love them

[00:19:11] and have compassion

[00:19:12] and respect for them.

[00:19:15] Spiritual advanced studies

[00:19:16] is even,

[00:19:18] here we go,

[00:19:19] take a deep breath

[00:19:19] with me.

[00:19:20] The candidate

[00:19:21] that you hope

[00:19:22] doesn't win next week

[00:19:24] to send them love

[00:19:26] and compassion.

[00:19:30] Have I got you

[00:19:31] still here with me?

[00:19:35] That's advanced spirituality.

[00:19:38] It's to not wish

[00:19:39] harm for anyone.

[00:19:41] It's to not wish

[00:19:42] a lack of good

[00:19:43] for anyone,

[00:19:44] no matter what

[00:19:45] they've done.

[00:19:46] But to stand

[00:19:48] in that spiritual depth

[00:19:50] of trust and love

[00:19:52] and clarity

[00:19:53] about my own values

[00:19:55] in my own life

[00:19:55] and to exercise

[00:19:57] that with great love

[00:19:58] and to walk forward

[00:20:00] in that

[00:20:01] while holding all beings

[00:20:02] in love and compassion.

[00:20:04] That's true

[00:20:05] spiritual clarity

[00:20:06] to me.

[00:20:07] And hand in hand

[00:20:08] with that

[00:20:08] comes the second

[00:20:09] transmutation

[00:20:10] that I think

[00:20:11] is the most important.

[00:20:12] It's transmuting

[00:20:14] fear

[00:20:15] into faith.

[00:20:18] Fear

[00:20:19] into faith.

[00:20:20] Fear argues

[00:20:22] is that

[00:20:23] if we don't

[00:20:24] want

[00:20:25] what happens

[00:20:26] to happen

[00:20:28] the world's

[00:20:29] going to fall apart.

[00:20:30] If the thing

[00:20:31] that happens

[00:20:32] that we don't

[00:20:33] want to have happen

[00:20:33] happens

[00:20:34] we're all dead.

[00:20:35] The world

[00:20:36] is going to end.

[00:20:37] Our freedoms

[00:20:38] are going to end.

[00:20:39] People are going to die.

[00:20:40] And I understand

[00:20:42] that with this

[00:20:44] world structure

[00:20:46] happening

[00:20:47] the stakes are high

[00:20:49] and there's challenges

[00:20:52] before us

[00:20:53] and great challenges

[00:20:54] ahead of us.

[00:20:54] And transmuting

[00:20:56] ourselves

[00:20:56] to a faith

[00:20:57] way of living

[00:20:59] though

[00:20:59] says

[00:20:59] we can

[00:21:01] survive

[00:21:03] and thrive

[00:21:04] no matter what.

[00:21:05] and indeed

[00:21:06] faith

[00:21:09] actually

[00:21:10] can

[00:21:10] have

[00:21:11] some

[00:21:11] place

[00:21:12] where it

[00:21:12] can look

[00:21:13] back

[00:21:13] and say

[00:21:15] hey

[00:21:16] as a country

[00:21:17] as a world

[00:21:18] it's not like

[00:21:19] we've never been

[00:21:20] through crisis

[00:21:21] before is it?

[00:21:22] It's not like

[00:21:23] bad things

[00:21:24] haven't happened

[00:21:25] before.

[00:21:26] We've had

[00:21:27] global wars

[00:21:28] we've had

[00:21:30] terrorism

[00:21:31] we've had

[00:21:33] challenges

[00:21:34] with pandemics

[00:21:35] we've had

[00:21:36] times

[00:21:37] where

[00:21:37] different

[00:21:38] countries

[00:21:39] were at

[00:21:39] odds

[00:21:39] with each

[00:21:40] other

[00:21:40] and we've

[00:21:41] been at

[00:21:41] odds

[00:21:41] we have

[00:21:42] been

[00:21:42] through

[00:21:43] lots

[00:21:43] and while

[00:21:44] it hasn't

[00:21:45] always been

[00:21:46] easy

[00:21:46] or pretty

[00:21:48] or beautiful

[00:21:50] it is all

[00:21:51] a part

[00:21:52] of the

[00:21:53] evolutionary

[00:21:53] journey

[00:21:54] of humanity

[00:21:56] and faith

[00:21:58] lands

[00:21:59] squarely

[00:22:00] in that

[00:22:00] pocket

[00:22:01] and says

[00:22:01] I may not

[00:22:02] understand

[00:22:04] and yet

[00:22:05] I choose

[00:22:06] to continue

[00:22:07] to be

[00:22:08] a being

[00:22:09] of faith

[00:22:09] and do

[00:22:10] my part

[00:22:11] to keep

[00:22:13] people

[00:22:14] in that

[00:22:16] space of

[00:22:16] love and

[00:22:17] compassion

[00:22:17] I don't

[00:22:18] allow my

[00:22:19] fears

[00:22:20] to take

[00:22:21] over

[00:22:21] and have

[00:22:22] me be

[00:22:22] a contribution

[00:22:23] constantly

[00:22:25] of fear

[00:22:25] and anxiety

[00:22:26] rather

[00:22:27] I choose

[00:22:28] to do

[00:22:30] my practice

[00:22:31] and to

[00:22:31] be centered

[00:22:32] and to

[00:22:33] trust the

[00:22:34] journey

[00:22:34] that I'm

[00:22:35] on and

[00:22:35] that we're

[00:22:36] on

[00:22:37] together

[00:22:38] that I

[00:22:39] stand

[00:22:40] for

[00:22:40] faith

[00:22:42] and love

[00:22:43] and compassion

[00:22:44] not only

[00:22:45] in my

[00:22:45] head but

[00:22:45] how I

[00:22:46] live it

[00:22:46] out

[00:22:46] our

[00:22:48] founder

[00:22:48] Ernest

[00:22:48] Holmes

[00:22:48] in his

[00:22:50] final message

[00:22:51] called

[00:22:51] Sermon by

[00:22:52] the Sea

[00:22:52] at our

[00:22:53] Asilomar

[00:22:53] conference

[00:22:54] in 1959

[00:22:55] said these

[00:22:56] words

[00:22:56] it would

[00:22:57] be wonderful

[00:22:58] indeed

[00:22:58] if a group

[00:22:58] of persons

[00:22:59] should arrive

[00:23:00] on earth

[00:23:00] who were

[00:23:01] for something

[00:23:02] and against

[00:23:03] nothing

[00:23:04] this would

[00:23:05] be the

[00:23:05] summum

[00:23:06] bonum

[00:23:06] of human

[00:23:07] organization

[00:23:08] wouldn't

[00:23:08] it

[00:23:08] it is

[00:23:10] in the

[00:23:10] life

[00:23:10] of the

[00:23:11] individual

[00:23:11] now I've

[00:23:12] been quoting

[00:23:13] that quote

[00:23:13] for years

[00:23:14] and I never

[00:23:14] looked up

[00:23:15] summum

[00:23:16] bonum

[00:23:16] before now

[00:23:17] I totally

[00:23:18] admit it

[00:23:19] this time

[00:23:20] I was like

[00:23:20] what the

[00:23:20] hell

[00:23:21] is summum

[00:23:22] bonum

[00:23:24] it means

[00:23:25] the highest

[00:23:26] good

[00:23:26] especially

[00:23:27] the ultimate

[00:23:28] goal

[00:23:29] according

[00:23:29] to which

[00:23:29] values

[00:23:30] and priorities

[00:23:31] are established

[00:23:32] in an ethical

[00:23:33] system

[00:23:34] and the key

[00:23:36] thing that he

[00:23:36] stands for

[00:23:37] as have

[00:23:38] spiritual

[00:23:39] leaders

[00:23:40] Jesus

[00:23:40] included

[00:23:41] as he was

[00:23:41] facing

[00:23:42] the

[00:23:44] civil

[00:23:45] unrest

[00:23:45] he was in

[00:23:46] it was all

[00:23:47] about being

[00:23:48] for something

[00:23:49] and against

[00:23:49] nothing

[00:23:50] it was all

[00:23:51] about being

[00:23:51] for love

[00:23:52] and not

[00:23:53] hate

[00:23:53] it was all

[00:23:54] about the

[00:23:55] great Dr.

[00:23:56] Martin Luther

[00:23:57] King

[00:23:57] being for

[00:23:58] peace

[00:23:59] and nonviolence

[00:24:01] not hate

[00:24:02] and retribution

[00:24:03] it has always

[00:24:04] been by the

[00:24:06] greatest voices

[00:24:07] calling us

[00:24:08] to our

[00:24:09] higher

[00:24:10] higher

[00:24:11] place

[00:24:12] of profound

[00:24:13] faith

[00:24:14] and this

[00:24:15] is one of

[00:24:16] those times

[00:24:17] this is one

[00:24:18] of those moments

[00:24:19] where we're

[00:24:20] being called

[00:24:21] together

[00:24:21] not only about

[00:24:23] our own

[00:24:23] election

[00:24:24] but about

[00:24:24] everything

[00:24:24] that's going

[00:24:25] on in our

[00:24:25] on our

[00:24:26] globe

[00:24:26] to be

[00:24:28] and embody

[00:24:29] this

[00:24:30] enlightened

[00:24:30] citizenry

[00:24:31] so I think

[00:24:32] we do that

[00:24:33] by transmuting

[00:24:35] our confusion

[00:24:36] to clarity

[00:24:37] by transmuting

[00:24:38] our fear

[00:24:39] into a deeper

[00:24:40] faith

[00:24:40] and a few

[00:24:41] years ago

[00:24:42] I found a

[00:24:43] practice

[00:24:43] that I have

[00:24:44] talked about

[00:24:44] here before

[00:24:45] that I want

[00:24:45] to talk about

[00:24:46] today

[00:24:46] that really

[00:24:48] spoke to

[00:24:49] me

[00:24:49] and has

[00:24:50] made a

[00:24:50] huge

[00:24:51] difference

[00:24:51] I was

[00:24:52] going through

[00:24:53] a period

[00:24:53] in the last

[00:24:54] four years

[00:24:55] where there

[00:24:55] was a lot

[00:24:56] of death

[00:24:56] and destruction

[00:24:57] in my

[00:24:57] personal life

[00:24:58] and my

[00:24:59] family's

[00:24:59] personal life

[00:25:00] it was a

[00:25:02] very challenging

[00:25:02] time

[00:25:03] and I found

[00:25:04] myself

[00:25:05] gravitating

[00:25:05] towards a

[00:25:06] book called

[00:25:07] When Things

[00:25:08] Fall Apart

[00:25:09] by the great

[00:25:10] Buddhist nun

[00:25:11] Pema Chodron

[00:25:12] I think I

[00:25:13] carried that

[00:25:13] book with me

[00:25:14] almost everywhere

[00:25:15] I went for a

[00:25:16] while and I

[00:25:17] would just

[00:25:17] take it out

[00:25:17] and read it

[00:25:18] when everything

[00:25:18] got a little

[00:25:19] overwhelming

[00:25:19] for me

[00:25:20] and there

[00:25:21] are a lot

[00:25:22] of sects

[00:25:22] of Buddhism

[00:25:23] that talk

[00:25:23] about the

[00:25:25] way to

[00:25:26] enlightenment

[00:25:26] and to

[00:25:27] transcend

[00:25:28] suffering

[00:25:29] and that

[00:25:29] sort of

[00:25:30] thing

[00:25:30] and Pema Chodron

[00:25:32] in this

[00:25:32] book

[00:25:32] talks about

[00:25:34] the notion

[00:25:35] of being a

[00:25:36] bodhisattva

[00:25:37] in the

[00:25:37] Buddhist

[00:25:38] teachings

[00:25:38] she talks

[00:25:39] about how

[00:25:40] many humans

[00:25:41] in our

[00:25:41] attempt to

[00:25:42] feel better

[00:25:43] will try

[00:25:44] to push

[00:25:45] away our

[00:25:46] suffering

[00:25:46] or push

[00:25:47] away the

[00:25:48] collective

[00:25:48] suffering

[00:25:49] so that

[00:25:50] instead

[00:25:50] we can

[00:25:51] grab hold

[00:25:52] of love

[00:25:53] and peace

[00:25:53] and somehow

[00:25:54] pack it

[00:25:55] into our

[00:25:56] beingness

[00:25:57] she talks

[00:25:58] though about

[00:25:59] a bodhisattva

[00:26:00] does the

[00:26:01] opposite

[00:26:01] and many

[00:26:02] of the

[00:26:03] Buddhists

[00:26:03] believe that

[00:26:04] Jesus was

[00:26:05] a bodhisattva

[00:26:05] and that

[00:26:06] Gandhi was

[00:26:07] a bodhisattva

[00:26:08] that these

[00:26:08] are beings

[00:26:09] that that

[00:26:10] word is

[00:26:10] defined as

[00:26:11] someone who

[00:26:12] spends a

[00:26:14] majority

[00:26:14] of their

[00:26:15] time

[00:26:15] seeking

[00:26:17] to be

[00:26:17] a beneficial

[00:26:18] presence

[00:26:19] to humanity

[00:26:20] in their

[00:26:21] actions

[00:26:22] and in

[00:26:23] their

[00:26:23] internal

[00:26:23] life

[00:26:24] that

[00:26:25] sounds to

[00:26:26] me a lot

[00:26:26] like being

[00:26:27] an enlightened

[00:26:27] citizen

[00:26:28] how can

[00:26:29] I be a

[00:26:29] beneficial

[00:26:29] presence

[00:26:30] so becoming

[00:26:31] a bodhisattva

[00:26:32] she says

[00:26:34] and this

[00:26:34] was really

[00:26:35] profound

[00:26:35] for me

[00:26:36] is that

[00:26:37] instead

[00:26:38] you take

[00:26:38] your high

[00:26:39] falutin

[00:26:40] consciousness

[00:26:40] and you

[00:26:41] go down

[00:26:42] the mountain

[00:26:43] into

[00:26:44] the suffering

[00:26:46] and you

[00:26:47] don't

[00:26:47] have faith

[00:26:48] in God

[00:26:49] this is not

[00:26:50] about saying

[00:26:51] God will

[00:26:52] handle it

[00:26:52] all

[00:26:52] God will

[00:26:53] make sure

[00:26:54] the right

[00:26:54] person is

[00:26:54] the next

[00:26:55] president

[00:26:55] God will

[00:26:56] make sure

[00:26:57] Putin gets

[00:26:58] his

[00:26:58] God

[00:26:58] it's not

[00:26:59] about that

[00:27:00] it's about

[00:27:01] having the

[00:27:01] faith

[00:27:02] of God

[00:27:03] it's about

[00:27:05] recognizing

[00:27:05] that it's not

[00:27:07] like there's

[00:27:07] some God

[00:27:08] out there

[00:27:08] that's going

[00:27:09] to fix

[00:27:09] all this

[00:27:10] stuff

[00:27:10] for us

[00:27:12] it's that

[00:27:13] we are

[00:27:13] the fixers

[00:27:14] we are

[00:27:16] the enlightened

[00:27:16] citizens

[00:27:17] who have

[00:27:18] the ability

[00:27:19] because the

[00:27:20] God presence

[00:27:21] the transformative

[00:27:22] life presence

[00:27:23] that is expressing

[00:27:25] itself as

[00:27:26] Lisa said

[00:27:27] in the beginning

[00:27:27] of that

[00:27:28] video

[00:27:29] through all

[00:27:30] beings

[00:27:30] and all

[00:27:31] things

[00:27:31] and all

[00:27:32] plants

[00:27:32] and all

[00:27:33] animals

[00:27:33] and all

[00:27:35] humans

[00:27:35] and all

[00:27:36] expressions

[00:27:37] of life

[00:27:37] is right

[00:27:39] where we

[00:27:39] are

[00:27:40] and we

[00:27:40] are not

[00:27:42] some

[00:27:42] lost

[00:27:43] disempowered

[00:27:44] beings

[00:27:45] who can't

[00:27:46] make a

[00:27:46] difference

[00:27:46] rather

[00:27:47] we are

[00:27:48] beings

[00:27:49] who can

[00:27:49] stand

[00:27:50] in the

[00:27:50] midst

[00:27:50] of whatever

[00:27:51] is happening

[00:27:51] take it

[00:27:52] into our

[00:27:53] being

[00:27:54] and transform

[00:27:56] it into

[00:27:56] love

[00:27:57] and so

[00:27:57] we actually

[00:27:58] enter into

[00:27:59] the

[00:27:59] suffering

[00:28:00] one of the

[00:28:02] practices

[00:28:02] she teaches

[00:28:03] in this

[00:28:03] book

[00:28:03] that we've

[00:28:04] practiced

[00:28:05] here before

[00:28:05] is called

[00:28:06] Tong Lin

[00:28:06] it's the

[00:28:07] practice

[00:28:08] of literally

[00:28:09] just being

[00:28:10] with

[00:28:11] that which

[00:28:12] is challenging

[00:28:13] and breathing

[00:28:14] it in

[00:28:15] taking in

[00:28:17] that suffering

[00:28:18] that pain

[00:28:18] that anxiety

[00:28:19] and feeling

[00:28:21] and choosing

[00:28:22] to transmute

[00:28:23] it with the

[00:28:23] energy

[00:28:24] of the

[00:28:24] divine

[00:28:25] as us

[00:28:25] and breathing

[00:28:27] it back

[00:28:27] out into

[00:28:28] the world

[00:28:30] it's a

[00:28:31] practice

[00:28:31] that for

[00:28:32] me helps

[00:28:33] me be

[00:28:34] an enlightened

[00:28:35] citizen

[00:28:36] to look

[00:28:37] at something

[00:28:37] going on

[00:28:37] in the

[00:28:38] world

[00:28:38] and instead

[00:28:38] of saying

[00:28:39] they gotta

[00:28:39] fix that

[00:28:40] over there

[00:28:40] who's gonna

[00:28:40] take care

[00:28:41] of that

[00:28:41] or we

[00:28:42] need to

[00:28:42] vote that

[00:28:43] out

[00:28:43] or we

[00:28:43] can't

[00:28:44] hand

[00:28:44] that

[00:28:44] oh boy

[00:28:46] that must

[00:28:46] be really

[00:28:47] tough

[00:28:49] I don't

[00:28:49] disengage

[00:28:50] from it

[00:28:51] I engage

[00:28:52] in it

[00:28:53] the suffering

[00:28:54] the pain

[00:28:55] the loss

[00:28:56] the sadness

[00:28:59] and I

[00:28:59] breathe it

[00:29:00] in

[00:29:00] and I

[00:29:02] transmute

[00:29:02] it

[00:29:02] and then

[00:29:03] I

[00:29:04] breathe

[00:29:04] it

[00:29:04] back

[00:29:04] this

[00:29:05] is

[00:29:05] the

[00:29:05] Buddhist

[00:29:06] practice

[00:29:06] of

[00:29:07] Tonglin

[00:29:08] and I'm

[00:29:09] suggesting

[00:29:10] that we

[00:29:10] practice

[00:29:10] this

[00:29:11] together

[00:29:11] today

[00:29:12] and

[00:29:12] over the

[00:29:13] next

[00:29:13] week

[00:29:14] as we

[00:29:15] face

[00:29:15] whatever

[00:29:16] it is

[00:29:16] we face

[00:29:17] together

[00:29:17] as a way

[00:29:19] of transmuting

[00:29:20] our fear

[00:29:21] if we have

[00:29:22] any

[00:29:22] or our

[00:29:22] anxiety

[00:29:23] into greater

[00:29:24] faith

[00:29:25] so right

[00:29:26] now I'm

[00:29:26] going to

[00:29:26] ask our

[00:29:27] practitioner

[00:29:27] prayer

[00:29:28] partners

[00:29:28] to stand

[00:29:29] with me

[00:29:29] in this

[00:29:29] practice

[00:29:30] as they

[00:29:30] normally

[00:29:31] do

[00:29:31] and we're

[00:29:32] going to

[00:29:32] do a

[00:29:32] couple

[00:29:32] rounds

[00:29:33] of Tonglin

[00:29:34] and then

[00:29:35] I'll do

[00:29:35] a normal

[00:29:35] prayer

[00:29:36] that we're

[00:29:36] all used

[00:29:37] to

[00:29:37] and after

[00:29:37] our

[00:29:38] service

[00:29:38] I remind

[00:29:39] us

[00:29:39] that all

[00:29:40] of us

[00:29:40] can come

[00:29:41] forward

[00:29:41] and receive

[00:29:42] prayer

[00:29:42] from a

[00:29:43] practitioner

[00:29:43] today

[00:29:44] after the

[00:29:45] service

[00:29:45] if you like

[00:29:46] it

[00:29:46] and need

[00:29:46] it

[00:29:47] and right

[00:29:48] now

[00:29:48] I invite

[00:29:49] us just

[00:29:49] to go

[00:29:49] within

[00:29:49] and begin

[00:29:50] to breathe

[00:29:50] and become

[00:29:51] centered

[00:29:53] to feel

[00:29:54] all of

[00:29:54] these

[00:29:55] words

[00:29:55] and these

[00:29:55] ideas

[00:29:56] and thoughts

[00:29:56] that are

[00:29:58] floating in

[00:29:59] this space

[00:30:00] that we've

[00:30:01] experienced

[00:30:01] together

[00:30:03] and feel

[00:30:04] the impact

[00:30:05] of them

[00:30:05] and opportunity

[00:30:06] to open

[00:30:07] our hearts

[00:30:07] no one is

[00:30:09] forcing us

[00:30:09] to practice

[00:30:10] Tonglin

[00:30:11] so if you

[00:30:11] want to

[00:30:12] say nope

[00:30:13] that's not

[00:30:13] for me

[00:30:13] you are

[00:30:14] totally

[00:30:14] at choice

[00:30:16] for those

[00:30:16] who are

[00:30:17] choosing

[00:30:17] to join

[00:30:18] us in

[00:30:18] this

[00:30:18] practice

[00:30:19] we take

[00:30:20] a moment

[00:30:20] right here

[00:30:20] and right

[00:30:21] now to

[00:30:21] begin

[00:30:22] right where

[00:30:23] we are

[00:30:23] and so

[00:30:24] we feel

[00:30:24] into

[00:30:25] this

[00:30:26] beautiful

[00:30:26] space

[00:30:27] of beings

[00:30:29] in this

[00:30:29] room

[00:30:30] those

[00:30:30] watching

[00:30:31] us

[00:30:31] online

[00:30:31] and we

[00:30:33] may not

[00:30:33] know

[00:30:33] what

[00:30:34] suffering

[00:30:35] someone's

[00:30:35] going

[00:30:35] through

[00:30:36] what

[00:30:36] broken

[00:30:36] heartedness

[00:30:37] may be

[00:30:37] in someone's

[00:30:38] life

[00:30:38] who's

[00:30:39] in this

[00:30:39] room

[00:30:39] right now

[00:30:39] what

[00:30:40] challenges

[00:30:41] but what

[00:30:41] we can

[00:30:42] know

[00:30:42] is that

[00:30:42] wherever

[00:30:43] human beings

[00:30:44] gather

[00:30:44] together

[00:30:45] someone

[00:30:46] is struggling

[00:30:47] with something

[00:30:48] and so

[00:30:49] we breathe

[00:30:50] that in

[00:30:51] the breath

[00:30:52] of any

[00:30:53] suffering

[00:30:54] of this

[00:30:55] space

[00:30:55] of anyone

[00:30:56] in this

[00:30:56] place

[00:30:57] right now

[00:30:57] we just

[00:30:58] breathe

[00:30:59] that into

[00:31:00] our being

[00:31:00] and we

[00:31:01] feel that

[00:31:02] light presence

[00:31:03] within us

[00:31:03] begin to

[00:31:04] immediately

[00:31:05] transmute it

[00:31:07] we even

[00:31:08] see a

[00:31:09] light

[00:31:09] within us

[00:31:09] we even

[00:31:10] imagine

[00:31:11] that God

[00:31:12] presence

[00:31:12] within us

[00:31:13] that

[00:31:13] transformative

[00:31:14] energy

[00:31:15] that is

[00:31:15] moving

[00:31:16] upon

[00:31:17] that

[00:31:18] fear

[00:31:18] or that

[00:31:19] suffering

[00:31:19] or that

[00:31:20] pain

[00:31:20] or that

[00:31:21] sadness

[00:31:22] and

[00:31:23] transmuting

[00:31:24] it to

[00:31:24] love

[00:31:25] and light

[00:31:27] and compassion

[00:31:29] and peace

[00:31:30] and we

[00:31:32] breathe it

[00:31:32] back out

[00:31:35] into this

[00:31:36] room

[00:31:37] through that

[00:31:38] camera

[00:31:39] to those

[00:31:39] watching

[00:31:40] wherever they

[00:31:40] are in the

[00:31:41] world

[00:31:43] this is

[00:31:44] how we

[00:31:44] begin the

[00:31:45] practice

[00:31:45] and I

[00:31:46] invite us

[00:31:47] now to

[00:31:48] practice

[00:31:49] Tonglin

[00:31:49] on any

[00:31:50] place in

[00:31:50] the world

[00:31:50] maybe we

[00:31:51] imagine

[00:31:52] those who

[00:31:53] are working

[00:31:54] in the

[00:31:54] polls

[00:31:55] the pollsters

[00:31:56] the political

[00:31:57] workers in

[00:31:58] the next

[00:31:58] week

[00:31:59] or the

[00:31:59] polls

[00:32:00] themselves

[00:32:00] those who

[00:32:01] are voting

[00:32:01] or maybe

[00:32:03] we imagine

[00:32:03] another home

[00:32:04] where we

[00:32:05] know there's

[00:32:06] struggle

[00:32:06] or challenge

[00:32:07] or violence

[00:32:07] or a

[00:32:08] country

[00:32:09] where we're

[00:32:09] concerned about

[00:32:10] the people

[00:32:10] and we

[00:32:11] breathe in

[00:32:12] that energy

[00:32:15] and we

[00:32:15] feel that

[00:32:17] light within

[00:32:18] us

[00:32:18] with its

[00:32:19] great capability

[00:32:21] to transform

[00:32:23] that energy

[00:32:24] and we

[00:32:28] feel the

[00:32:29] transformation

[00:32:29] occur

[00:32:30] and the

[00:32:30] compassion

[00:32:31] the love

[00:32:32] and the

[00:32:33] peace

[00:32:33] the solutions

[00:32:35] that we may

[00:32:36] not know

[00:32:37] of and yet

[00:32:37] we stand

[00:32:38] in them

[00:32:39] divine solutions

[00:32:41] to challenges

[00:32:42] and we

[00:32:43] breathe that

[00:32:44] back out

[00:32:44] to that

[00:32:45] same place

[00:32:46] that home

[00:32:47] that heart

[00:32:48] oh what

[00:32:52] if

[00:32:53] we simply

[00:32:55] underestimate

[00:32:55] the power

[00:32:57] we have

[00:32:58] to transform

[00:32:59] our world

[00:33:01] each one

[00:33:02] of us

[00:33:02] this God

[00:33:04] presence

[00:33:05] so alive

[00:33:06] so profoundly

[00:33:08] alive

[00:33:09] in us

[00:33:11] calling us

[00:33:12] to utilize

[00:33:14] it

[00:33:14] on behalf

[00:33:15] of ourselves

[00:33:16] and all

[00:33:18] of the

[00:33:18] beloveds

[00:33:18] we share

[00:33:19] this beautiful

[00:33:19] planet with

[00:33:20] so I

[00:33:22] accept

[00:33:22] and affirm

[00:33:23] in this

[00:33:23] prayerful

[00:33:24] consciousness

[00:33:24] that we

[00:33:26] go forth

[00:33:27] empowered

[00:33:28] enlightened

[00:33:30] in joy

[00:33:31] and awareness

[00:33:33] of our

[00:33:34] ability

[00:33:35] to stand

[00:33:37] in our

[00:33:37] own light

[00:33:38] and clarity

[00:33:39] to stand

[00:33:40] in our

[00:33:40] faith

[00:33:41] in the

[00:33:41] days

[00:33:42] ahead

[00:33:42] to stand

[00:33:43] in the

[00:33:44] deepest

[00:33:45] truth

[00:33:45] of

[00:33:46] oneness

[00:33:47] and connection

[00:33:48] as we

[00:33:49] look upon

[00:33:50] contemplate

[00:33:51] and interact

[00:33:52] with every

[00:33:53] beautiful thing

[00:33:54] on this

[00:33:55] planet

[00:33:55] in these

[00:33:56] days

[00:33:56] ahead

[00:33:57] we are

[00:33:58] enlightened

[00:33:59] citizens

[00:34:00] I claim

[00:34:01] this

[00:34:01] I accept

[00:34:02] this

[00:34:04] and the

[00:34:04] energy

[00:34:05] from this

[00:34:06] moves out

[00:34:07] onto this

[00:34:08] planet

[00:34:08] and surrounds

[00:34:09] it in

[00:34:09] love

[00:34:10] and light

[00:34:10] for this

[00:34:12] is not only

[00:34:12] for our

[00:34:13] good

[00:34:13] that we

[00:34:13] do this

[00:34:14] work

[00:34:14] this is

[00:34:14] for the

[00:34:15] good

[00:34:15] of all

[00:34:17] and we

[00:34:17] give thanks

[00:34:18] for our

[00:34:18] ability

[00:34:19] to do

[00:34:19] this

[00:34:19] as we

[00:34:20] release

[00:34:21] this

[00:34:21] prayer

[00:34:22] into the

[00:34:22] action

[00:34:23] of that

[00:34:23] universal

[00:34:24] law

[00:34:24] that

[00:34:24] beautiful

[00:34:25] alchemy

[00:34:26] of

[00:34:26] prayerfulness

[00:34:27] that

[00:34:27] transforms

[00:34:28] these

[00:34:29] words

[00:34:29] into

[00:34:30] manifested

[00:34:31] reality

[00:34:34] transmutation

[00:34:36] we let

[00:34:37] it go

[00:34:37] we let

[00:34:38] it be

[00:34:38] and so

[00:34:39] it is

[00:34:40] amen

[00:34:42] thanks for

[00:34:42] listening to

[00:34:43] the mile high

[00:34:44] church

[00:34:44] podcast

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[00:34:49] to make a

[00:34:50] donation

[00:34:50] please visit

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